License-plate clip



pri 20 1926. 1,581,416

L. J. ALPAUGH LI SENSE PLATE CLIP Filed Jan` 12. '1925 l Patented Apr. 20,1926.

UNITED'ISTAT'ES PATENT ortica.

LEMAN J. ALPAUGH, or rENToN, MICHIGAN;

LICENSE-PLATE CLIP.

, Application mea January 12, 1925. seriarNo. 1,994.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMAN J. ALPAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fenton, in the county of Genesee .and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a "License-Plate Clip, of which the following is a specifica` tion.

. The present invention relates to locking means for bolts and nuts, and more particularly to an improved clip especially well adapted for use in securely retaining license plates upon motor vehicles or the like.

' A further object of the invention is, to

provide ai license plate locking clip which may be used in connection with standard bolts and nuts, without alteration or mutila- `tion thereof; and which clip is of such construction as to permit of the use of a lock washer for preventing rattling of the parts due tovibration.

license plate clip,

A stillfurther object of the invention is.l

extremely simple, yet efficient which may be readily stamped from strips of sheet metal, hence making the device inexpensive tofmanufacture. Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken 'inl connection with accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing,

Figure l is a fragmentary face plan view to provide anA showing one manner of employing the im-y proved locking clipin connection with the a vertical section on line 2-2 the direction of the usual retaining bolt of a license plate.

Figure 2 is of Figure 1, looking in arrows. ,f

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. v

`Figure 4 is a fragmentary face plan view showing a different manner of `employing the locking clipy for preventing relative movement of the nut and bolt.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear plan View of the structure shown in Figure 4.

8 F igurei is a Vhorizontal section on line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of .thearrows, and 1 Figure 7 is a perspectivey view of one of the improved clips in the condition prior to its application tofa bolt. Y

Referring to the drawing in detail, and wherein similar characters designate corresponding part-sthroughoutvthe views, A designates a license plate, and B a supporting bracket therefor; C a bolt; D a nut for threaded connection with the bolt C; E a lock washer; and F a locking device for preventing relative movement of the nut D with respect to the bolt C.

The license plate A which is of usual construgtion, is provided adjacent'its uppei marginal edge with an elongated slot 10 which is adapted to be aligned with the usual elongated slot 11 provided in the license bracket B.

The bolt C which is of ordinary construe'- tlon, preferably embodies a square head 12 and a shank portion 13, the shank 13 being adapted to extend through the aligned slots 10 and 11, and project outwardly past the rear face of the bracket B for threaded reception of the square nut D. 'lVhile'the nut D and bolt head v12 have been' shown as being square, it will be understood that this is merely for conve-nience in illustration, and is in no wise restrictive of the application of the invention.

Referring now tothe locking device F, which may be formed from a strip of metal of a suitable nature,`the same has a right angularly extending flange 14 formed at one end thereof for .engagement withl one face ofthe nut D. This ange is formed relatively long, so as, to permit of the lock washer E being used to keep the parts from rattling, and still portion of the flange to firmly engage one face of the nut to prevent its rotation. Formed adjacent the flange 14 of the strip, is a washer like portion 15, and which portion will hereafter be referred to as an inner washer like portion. like /portion 15 is connected by a reduced portionl to one edge of an intermediate washer like portion 17 havingr a bendable tongue portion 18; and formed contiguous with the tongue portion 18, is an .outer washer like portion 19 provided with a ter.

permit of a substantial This inner washer minally disposed bendable tongue portion 20. Each of the washer like portions 15, 17

` and 19, which are arranged inl'ongitudinal.

alignment, are provided with bolt receiving perforations 21,22 land 23 respectively arranged in alignment at the longitudinal center of the strip.

'ln Figures l to 3 inclusive, Vthestrip is bent substantially midway between .the per- 10 forations-21 and 23 into U-shaped formation, with the perforations 21 and 23 in aligned relation for permitting of the shank .t through.

of the bolt to be readily 'passed there-A This formation permits of the 1 5 U.sl1aped body being slipped downwardly over the upper marginal edges of the 'bracket and license plate, with the flange carrying leg disposed in surface contact with the real1 face of the bracket, and with the rela-l 20 tively longer leg in surface contact with the face of the-license plate. l When in this position, the bendable tongue 20 maybe bent outwardly about vthe head of the bolt for preventing relative movement of the bolt and ut. Y

Referring now to the adaptation of the device as shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, aridwherein the license supporting Abracket isshown as being of such height as tojpre.- vent alignment of the perforations 21- and 23 with the aligned slots of the bracket and license plate as in ai manner as illustrated forations 21 and 22 into registering align-v ment with the slots. vWhen used in this manner, the bendable tongue -18 may be bent about the head of the bolt forl preventing` relative movement ofthe bolt and nut,

and the surplus portion of the strip severed along the weakening line 24 which divides the tongue 18 and washer like portion 19.

An oifset 25 may be provided at the innerend of the flange .14, for accommodating lock washers of slightlylarger dimensions( than that of the nut -liieingused,1without liabilitylof the 'washer .holding the 7flange out of con-tact with the sideof the nut It will be noted that the portions 15, 1'2' l 0 'and.19, act as'washers for the bolt and nutstructure for permittingv of ready turning fof the bolt for drawing'the license plate i1ito` tight engagement with the Supporting bracket. l

-It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the invention that a novel and eilicient locking clip has been provided,

whereby the retaining bolts of@l license plate will be prevented from working loose due to vibration, and resulting in probable loss of the license plate.

Various changes may be made as Ato the shape, size, and adaptation of the device, wit out' departing from the spirit of the invention or ythe scopeof the following claims.

I claim: A

1., As an article of manufacture, a locking means for bolts and nuts', comprising a stripV -like memberl formed with a flat mainA body portionhaving a right angularly disposed flange formed at one end thereof, said'main body portion comprising a plurality ef washer like portions formed in contiguous longitudinal alignment, and saidflange having an offset adjacent its juncture with the main body portion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an article ofmanufacture, a locking device for bolts andnuts, comprising a, strip like member formed with'a flat main body portion having an outwardly b t right angula-rly disposed flange forme at one endthereof` said main body-,porti comprising. a plurality 0f washer likeportions formed in contiguous longitudinal alignment, and having al reduced portion connecting .two o f said washer like portions.

8. As an article of manufacture, alocking device for bolts and nuts, comprising a strip like member formed with a plurality of washer like portions each embodying a tongue portion, a reduced portion connect'- `ing two of the washer like portions, and a weakening line dividing the tongue portion of one washer like portion With-the next adjacent washer like portion.

4. As an articleof-manufacture, a. locking device forl bolts and nuts, comprising a strip like member formed with a flat main body portion having a right angularly` bent ange portion atjone end thereof, washer like portions formed on the main body portion adjacent said flange portion and connected by 'a' reduced portion, and a tongue portion ex tending in contiguous longitudinal alignment from the washer portion lying'remote from the flange portion.

5'. .As an article of manufacture, a locking device for bolts and nuts, comprising a pliable stripl like member embodying a pair of Washer like portions connected by a reduced portion, tongue portions at the opposite ends of each washer like portion, a third washer like portion connected in longitudinal alignment tothe end of-one of said tongue portions by a weakening line, and

a terminally disposed tongue portion eX- tending from -said third washer like portion.'v

' ALEMAN J. ALPAUGH. 

